Reno, Mcbride Woo Broward's Top Democrats

July 7, 2002|By Rafael A. Olmeda Staff Writer

Two of the three candidates vying to take on Gov. Jeb Bush in November made another stop in Broward County on Saturday, courting the leaders of the Democratic clubs in hopes of securing a key endorsement.

Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and Tampa-based lawyer Bill McBride each said an endorsement from the Council of Club Presidents of Democratic Clubs in Broward County would provide some of the momentum they need to win the party's nomination for governor.

The candidates separately appeared before the council members who had gathered Saturday morning at the community room of the Davie Police Department. A third gubernatorial candidate, State Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami, was invited but did not attend.

While Reno leads McBride in public opinion polls, support for Bush slips into the "undecided" column when he's matched against McBride.

"I can win in November," McBride said. If given an opportunity to debate Bush, McBride said he would be the only one on the stage who was raised in Florida, who attended Florida's public schools, who ran a business in Florida and whose parents live in Florida. "So this is my home," he said.

But getting on the stage with Bush will be problematic for McBride, who trails Reno by 27 points in a recent Sun-Sentinel poll. That poll also found that Reno was gaining on Bush, although the governor remains 16 points ahead of her. Still, Reno said, the gap is closing and the chance of victory will improve as the campaign continues.

"It is there. It is palpable. I can beat Jeb Bush in November," she said.

An endorsement from the council would be a coup for McBride. Southeast Florida is considered Reno's stronghold. She was the state attorney for Dade County for 15 years, and leads in local polls by more than 60 points.

McBride has the endorsement of County Commission Chairwoman Lori Parrish, State Rep. Roger Wishner, State Senators Walter "Skip" Campbell and Steve Geller, and several other Broward legislators. But the Democratic club presidents are the field sergeants responsible for voter turnout on Election Day, and an endorsement from them could put a dent in Reno's lead.

John Coleman, president of the council, said the group had never endorsed a gubernatorial candidate before this year. The group felt that making an endorsement would increase their clout and relevance in the campaign, he said.

"The Realtors have a right to endorse. The newspapers do it. So do the unions," he said. "We want to exercise the same right. We want the party to say what the party wants."

Council members peppered the candidates with questions about school vouchers, prescription drug benefits, immigration, diversity and child welfare.

"If the governor is going to talk about accountability for Florida's schoolchildren, he ought to be accountable for all of Florida's children," Reno said.

"He talks about public schools, but I think he has a private school agenda," said McBride.

The 42 members of the council will make their decision on Aug. 3. To win the endorsement, one of the three candidates has to defeat the other two by a margin of at least 20 percent, said Coleman, who is also president of the Hollywood Democratic Club. If no candidate wins enough support, the council will issue no endorsement.

The council also heard from candidates for attorney general and agriculture commissioner.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4207.